The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-01
The FIRST INSTALLMRNT.
CHARLES TALBOT GETS rive
YEARS ON THE LARCENY COU
An Old Hotel Man on the Duties
and Responsibilities Of Night
Clerks.

The larceny count in the indictment
against Charles Talbot, the spIightly
young night clerk of the Gsyoso Ho.
tel, who skipped with Davenport's
diamonds when that lady was playing
an engagement at the Memphis The
alter the first week in February, came
up in the Criminal Court yesterday
ait, moon. TWAS baEed on the theft
OF $40 from the drawer Of the cigar
stand. The only witness introduced
was the young gentleman clerk at the
stand. after which Gen. &. 7. M. TuT-
ner, counsel for the defense, made a
touching appeal to the jury. The
prisoners mother occupied seat bo-
side her erTing son, and appeared al
most heart broken. After the attor-
ney's speech Judge DuBose charged
the jury, in which he referred to the
RI cent sentence against the col tidence
men, Hsrdee and Carter. The jury
then retired and soon returned with a
verdict of guilty, fixing the punish.
ment at two years in the penitentisry.
In passing sentence Judge DuBose
said as the diamond part of the In
dictn. ent was yet to come, the two
year sentence would do for the
present.
The sentence was great surprise to
almost everyone on account Of the
sma sum stolen and the prisoners
youth. Should he receive like
period for every $40 included in the
iewelry count his face will hardly be
seen again by any OF the present gem
eraion. In speaking to well known
hotel man, whose reputation for bust
ness pagacity 10 known the country
over, he said:
"His downfall only proves what !
have often taid, tbNi the position Of
night clerk ia really the most import
ant of any in a hotel, and no first class
hotel man can afford to be without
reliable man for that place. No one
wi oils not well known aud VINO can
not furnish the best of reference
should be employed. Fer fully six
hours when every one else having an
interest in the hotel lie asleep the night
c'erk has entire charge and control OF
the house. All of the money ald
vauables in the house are under his
immediate charge, and in case OF fire
man must be there with business
ability enough TO ect wisely and with
all possible dispatch. While l an
talking on this subject want to say
that many hotel men do not ire !
their night clerks a. they deserve in
regard to salary. Now, | claim that
night clerk should receive q salary
10 Al O( nlaKk
il he should not be go well up in the
hotel business. The responsibility
imposed upon him is enough greater
TO more than make up for a difference
of that kird. Now, l pay my night
clerk about the same as my head day
clerks, and l feel that ! am hardly
giving him enough yet, whom | think
of his duties. Almost every night he
has from $4,000 to SIC, 900 in cash and
jewelry to guard and protect-the very
time when highvaymen and outlaws
are most apt to do their work."
"Nearly all the hotels are provided
with a night Waterman or night por-
ter, are they not2"
"Yep, but much OF the time they
have work in various other parts OF
the house besides the Office, giving O
dozen opportunities each night for The
successful operation Of trained and
fearless robbers. Yes, cir; insist that
a man that is the custodian OF great
and important business like public
hotel, and the guardian OF two or
three hundred human beings for six
hours every night, the very time when
danger and crime turks nearest, should
not be put of with paltry salary of
1870 or $40 per month, and | under.
stand there are men working in this
city as low az 800 and S25. There ia
not hotel but ought 10 pay night !
c'erk not less than $50 a month be-
sides board and room, whiCh is always |
included, and at The larger hotels,
where the re- possibility is correspond. |
ingly greater, the pay should be in
proportion"
After listening TO The above the re-
porter strolled around aud made in
duiries Of other hotel men as TO the
responsibility Of the night clerks posi-.
ton, and The question, chow much |
money have you ever had in the Gale |
over night ?" WAS asked Of all of them.
From each one Il was learned that
fabulous Gums had often found protec.
ton within the massive sales OF the
houses. In money and jewelry the
amounts have sometimes run as high
40 $4,000. These facts show what
opportunities night clerks have to be
and what temptations are
constantly before them, but hotels now
are pretty generally adopting the plan
OF locking their safer before the day
watch leave. their places for the night.
The diamond part of the case will
come up April IL, as Mr.. Price cannot
reach here before that time.